Getty Conservation Institute facts for kids

The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) is a special place in Los Angeles, California. It's part of the J. Paul Getty Trust, which is a big organization that supports art and culture. The GCI started in 1985. Its main goal is to help protect and preserve important artworks, buildings, and cultural treasures from around the world.

The GCI does this in a few ways:

• They do scientific research to understand how things get damaged and how to fix them.
• They teach and train people who work in conservation.
• They work on real-life projects to save cultural heritage sites.
• They share what they learn with others.

The GCI helps protect both art and buildings. They follow the Getty Trust's ideas of helping others, sharing knowledge, teaching, and making things available to everyone.

Scientific Research: Protecting Our Past

GCI scientists study why objects and buildings get damaged. They also figure out how to stop or prevent this damage. They often focus on materials or projects that haven't been studied much or don't have a lot of money for research.

Understanding Damage to Collections

One project looked at how air pollution, both outside and inside museums, affects art collections. Another project studied why the sandstone columns from the original National Capitol Building, now at the United States National Arboretum, were falling apart.

Analyzing Materials: What Are Things Made Of?

GCI also studies what materials things are made of. For example, they worked on a project to help preserve old photographs. They created an "Atlas of Analytical Signatures of Photographic Processes." This atlas helps them identify the exact chemical makeup of about 150 different ways pictures have been made.

As part of this, Getty scientists examined the world's first photograph taken from nature by Nicéphore Niépce. Using special tools like X-ray fluorescence and infrared spectroscopy, they found that a material called bitumen of Judea was used in the image.

New Tools for Art Analysis

Scientists at GCI were interested in a tool called CheMin, which is on the Curiosity rover exploring Mars. They thought it could be useful for studying ancient art without harming it. Before, you often had to cut off a piece of an artwork to study its makeup, which could damage it.

CheMin uses X-rays to look at tiny particles and figure out what they are made of in minutes. Engineers created a smaller, portable version called the X-Duetto. This tool fits into a few briefcase-sized boxes. It can examine objects right where they are, keeping them safe. Getty scientists are now using it to analyze many museum antiques and the Roman ruins of Herculaneum, Italy.

Caring for Museum Environments

The GCI has done a lot of research on how the environment affects cultural objects. This includes studying climate control systems and checking pollution levels. They also create guides for museums, libraries, and archives to manage their environments in a way that helps preserve collections for a long time.

Advanced Techniques for Art Study

The GCI uses scientific research to identify and analyze materials in artworks. They use special techniques that don't harm the objects, like infrared reflectography, ultraviolet light (UV), CT scanners, imaging spectroscopy, and mass spectrometers. They also use FTIR and raman spectroscopy to understand what objects are made of, how they are decaying, and if they are real. For example, these tools helped identify the red paint on an Egyptian Mummy named Herakleides.

Preserving Modern Art and Sculptures

As part of their Modern and Contemporary Art Research Initiative, the GCI studies how to preserve outdoor sculptures. These sculptures are exposed to weather and pollution, which can cause them to decay. Projects have focused on developing protective coatings, cleaning methods, and ways to maintain sculptures. Other projects in this area include studying modern paints and how to preserve plastics.

Through paint analysis, the GCI learned about Jackson Pollock's early painting methods when conserving his work "Mural." This large painting is at the University of Iowa Museum of Art. Scientists found that each layer of paint would have needed many days to dry. They identified over 25 different paints, including house paint, and various ways the paint was applied. They also removed old varnish and fixed the canvas to make it look more like it did originally.

The GCI was also asked by the University of Arizona to help with "Woman-Ochre," a painting by Willem de Kooning. This painting had been stolen and was later found. GCI scientists are experts in modern paints. They used their skills to fill cracks, remove old varnish, and fix the canvas so it was closer to its original state.

Protecting Earthen Buildings from Earthquakes

Through the Earthen Architecture Initiative, the GCI has developed ways to make earthen buildings safer during earthquakes. This involves studying how weak these buildings are and testing new ways to strengthen them. They also provide guidelines for protecting historic buildings from earthquakes. The project uses local materials and skills, like at the Church of Kuñotambo in Peru, to help save historical buildings.

Mapping Los Angeles History

Historic places LA is an online list of important sites in Los Angeles. This project is the result of a ten-year partnership between Getty and the City of Los Angeles. It includes modern buildings and places important for history, society, and culture. In 2020, the African American Historic Places Los Angeles project began. Its goal is to find, protect, and celebrate the city's Black heritage. They are working to identify historic sites to be recognized and will offer internships and community programs.

Education and Training: Sharing Knowledge

Training people around the world is very important for the GCI's work to continue. The GCI offers courses, workshops, and seminars on conservation topics. These are for professionals and others who work with cultural heritage. They hold international workshops where experts can share ideas.

The courses cover many subjects, like materials, how to prevent damage, managing sites, and sustainable practices. For example, the GCI helped create a course to teach museum staff how to protect their collections from emergencies. They also developed a course on "Fundamentals of the Conservation of Photographs," which is now taught in Eastern Europe.

Besides courses, the GCI has long-term education programs. They helped create a Master's degree program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage with the University of California, Los Angeles.

Conservation Guest Scholars

Conservation Guest Scholars are professionals who come to the Getty for three to six months. They work on their own projects and bring new ideas to the field. This gives them a chance to use Getty's resources and work with other experts.

Online Resources and Publications

The GCI creates many online resources and publications to help with conservation. These include reports, guidelines, and papers that are free to access on the Getty website. Also, AATA Online is a free research database. It contains summaries of literature about conserving and preserving material cultural heritage.

Field Projects: Hands-On Conservation

GCI chooses field projects that help raise public awareness, provide new information, and support cultural heritage. They always work with partners who are serious about the project. This helps make sure the work continues even after the Getty's involvement ends. These projects often involve local communities, organizations, and governments.

Some past GCI field projects include:

• Preserving wall paintings inside Mogao Caves and Yungang Grottoes in China (started in 1989).
• Restoring prehistoric Rock Paintings of Sierra de San Francisco in Baja California Sur (1994).
• Protecting ancient buildings and archaeological sites in Iraq after the Iraq War began (2004).

Protecting Tutankhamun's Tomb

The GCI worked on conserving the tomb of Tutankhamun from 2009 to 2019. Their work focused on checking and stabilizing the tomb's wall paintings, which had large brown spots. They used DNA tests and chemical analysis to find out that the spots were no longer a threat. However, since they were deep in the paint, they couldn't be removed. An air filter system and upgrades to the tomb's floor and railings were also added to help keep the paintings stable while still allowing visitors.

Conserving Modern Buildings

The GCI has also worked on projects to conserve modern buildings. In March 2012, they launched the Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative. This program aims to improve how 20th-century buildings are preserved worldwide. Many post-war buildings and modern materials are now needing major repairs. Susan Macdonald, director of Buildings and Sites, explains that these buildings often need their first big repair around 60 years after they were built.

One project involved working with the Eames Foundation to create a plan for the Eames House (Case Study House no. 8). This important house was built in 1949 and needed conservation. The project involved studying the modern materials in the house. They removed asbestos, added moisture barriers, and set up monitoring systems for future concerns.

The GCI also partnered with the Salk Institute to fix issues with its window walls, which are made of concrete, glass, and teak wood. The ocean environment created unique challenges for these modern materials. After three years of study, restoration began on the windows, which had been affected by fungi and insects.

Training Mosaic Conservators

The GCI and Getty Foundation worked with other organizations to lead the MOSAIKON initiative. This program trains conservators in the southeastern Mediterranean region to care for mosaics in their areas.

Sharing Information: Spreading the Word

It has been said that "perhaps the institute's most profound contribution to conservation is the dissemination of information and methods learned in the field." This means that sharing what they learn is one of the GCI's most important contributions. They share information through conferences, lectures, books, and online publications, newsletters, videos, and audio.

Here are some books published by GCI:

• Ward, Philip R. The nature of conservation: a race against time. Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute, 1986. ISBN: 0-941103-00-5
• The conservation of tapestries and embroideries: proceedings of meetings at the Institut royal du patrimoine artistique, Brussels, Belgium, September 21–24, 1987. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1989. ISBN: 0-89236-154-9
• Cather, Sharon. The conservation of wall paintings: proceedings of a symposium organized by the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Getty Conservation Institute, London, July 13–16, 1987. Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute, 1991. ISBN: 0-89236-162-X
• Beley, Ennis, and Jeffrey Levin. Picture LA: landmarks of a new generation. Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute, 1994. ISBN: 0-89236-305-3
• Klein, Kathryn. The unbroken thread: conserving the textile traditions of Oaxaca. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1997. ISBN: 0-89236-380-0
• Corzo, Miguel Angel. Mortality immortality?: the legacy of 20th-century art. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1999. ISBN: 0-89236-528-5
• Dorge, Valerie, and Sharon L. Jones. Building an emergency plan: a guide for museums and other cultural institutions. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1999. ISBN: 0892365293
• Lavédrine, Bertrand, Jean-Paul Gandolfo, and Sibylle Monod. A guide to the preventive conservation of photograph collections. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2003. ISBN: 0-89236-701-6
• Schweidler, Max, and Roy L Perkinson. The restoration of engravings, drawings, books, and other works on paper. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2006. ISBN: 0-89236-835-7
• Rainer, Leslie and Angelyn Bass Rivera editors. The Conservation of Decorated Surfaces on Earthen Architecture. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2006. ISBN: 978-0-89236-850-1
• Caneva, Giulia, Maria Pia Nugari, and Ornella Salvadori. Plant Biology for Cultural Heritage: Biodeterioration and Conservation. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-89236-939-3
• Taylor, Joel, Michael C. Henry, Vincent Laudato Beltran, Walt Crimm, Matthew Eckelman, Jane Henderson, Jeremy Linden, Michał Łukomski, Bob Norris, Sarah Nunberg, and Cecilia Winter. Edited by Joel Taylor and Vincent Laudato Beltran. "Managing Collection Environments: Technical Notes and Guidance Guidelines" Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2023. ISBN: 978-1-95793-907-0
• Marsden, Susan, and Peter Spearritt. "The Twentieth-Century Historic Thematic Framework: A Tool for Assessing Heritage Places. With contributions from Leo Schmidt, Sheridan Burke, Gail Ostergren, Jeff Cody, and Chandler McCoy". Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2021. ISBN: 978-1-93743-383-3
• Macdonald, Susan, and Ana Paula Arato Gonçalves. "Conservation Principles for Concrete of Cultural Significance. Principles". Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-93743-379-6
• Beltran, Vincent Laudato, Christel Pesme, Sarah K. Freeman, and Mark Benson. "Microfading Tester: Light Sensitivity Assessment and Role in Lighting Policy. Guidelines". Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2021

Here is a selection of courses by GCI:

• ARIS (International Course on Architectural Records, Inventories and Information Systems for Conservation)
• International Course on the Conservation of Earthen Architecture

GCI Leadership Team

The Getty Conservation Institute has had three directors since it started. Besides the director, the GCI's main team includes:

• Associate Director, Programs: Jeanne Marie Teutonico
• Associate Director, Administration: Kathleen Gaines
• Head of Science: Tom Learner
• Head of Collections: Stavroula Golfmitsou
• Head of Buildings and Sites: Susan Macdonald

In 2022, the GCI had a budget of $41 million.

Other Getty Conservation Efforts

The J. Paul Getty Trust also helps with conservation in other ways, not just through the GCI. This includes the conservation departments at the J. Paul Getty Museum, the conservation collection in the library at the Getty Research Institute, and grants for conservation projects from the Getty Foundation.